A Study Using 18F-FAZA and PET Scans to Study Hypoxia in Pancreatic Cancer

Official Title

The Evaluation of Hypoxia Imaging in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) With 18F-Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside (18F-FAZA)

Summary:

This is a diagnostic study to look for low levels of oxygen (hypoxia) in pancreatic cancer
using an imaging test called positron emission tomography (PET). Hypoxia can influence how
pancreatic cancer grows and responds to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The
use of PET scans to measure hypoxia may be better and simpler than the approaches used
previously. This study will assess whether or not PET scans using a tracer called 18F-FAZA
(18F-Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside) can provide useful information about hypoxia in pancreatic
cancer. Also as part of the study, a blood sample will be taken to study biomarkers
(substances in the body that may be important indicators of hypoxia and/or pancreatic cancer)
that may be useful in studying pancreatic cancer and hypoxia.

Determine the feasibility of using dynamic and static PET imaging of FAZA uptake in patients with pancreatic cancer.

This is a single centre, single arm hypoxia study of pancreatic cancer with PET FAZA imaging.
PET-CT imaging of tumour hypoxia with FAZA will be done prior to the start of standard
treatment for pancreatic cancer with chemotherapy. The FAZA PET-CT imaging session will last
approximately 2.5 hours and include an initial dynamic scan to completely characterize the
initial rapid phase of FAZA uptake, followed by a later static scan.